ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER
An apparatus for application of surgical clips is provided and includes a lockout system selectively engageable with a pusher bar to prevent the pusher bar from returning to a home position and to prevent a trigger from completing a full stroke when a plurality of clips are substantially exhausted. The apparatus may include a trip mechanism including a trip lever biased into contact with the pusher bar, wherein distal movement of the drive bar moves the trip mechanism until the trip lever engages a lip of the pusher bar and in turn distally moves the pusher bar. The apparatus may include a wedge plate including a distal end placeable between spaced-apart jaw members, wherein the wedge plate is moved proximally to withdraw the distal end thereof from between the jaw members when a drive channel is moved in a distal direction.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/920,114, filed Mar. 26, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to surgical clip appliers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an endoscopic surgical clip applier having a mechanism for stabilizing the jaw structure during the insertion of a surgical clip.
2. Description of Related Art
Endoscopic staplers and clip appliers are known in the art and are used for a number of distinct and useful surgical procedures. In the case of a laparoscopic surgical procedure, access to the interior of an abdomen is achieved through narrow tubes or cannulas inserted through a small entrance incision in the skin. Minimally invasive procedures performed elsewhere in the body are often generally referred to as endoscopic procedures. Typically, a tube or cannula device is extended into the patient's body through the entrance incision to provide an access port. The port allows the surgeon to insert a number of different surgical instruments therethrough using a trocar and for performing surgical procedures far removed from the incision.
During a majority of these procedures, the surgeon must often terminate the flow of blood or another fluid through one or more vessels. The surgeon will often apply a surgical clip to a blood vessel or another duct to prevent the flow of body fluids therethrough during the procedure. An endoscopic clip applier is known in the art for applying a single clip during an entry to the body cavity. Such clips are typically fabricated from a biocompatible material and are usually compressed over a vessel. Once applied to the vessel, the compressed clip terminates the flow of fluid therethrough.
Endoscopic clip appliers that are able to apply multiple clips in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures during a single entry into the body cavity are described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,084,057 and 5,100,420 to Green et al., which are both incorporated by reference in their entirety. Another multiple endoscopic clip applier is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,436 by Pratt et al., the contents of which is also hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. These devices are typically, though not necessarily, used during a single surgical procedure. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/515,341 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,502 to Pier et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a resterilizable surgical clip applier. The clip applier advances and forms multiple clips during a single insertion into the body cavity. This resterilizable clip applier is configured to receive and cooperate with an interchangeable clip magazine so as to advance and form multiple clips during a single entry into a body cavity. One significant design goal is that the surgical clip be loaded between the jaws without any compression of the clip from the loading procedure. Such bending or torque of the clip during loading often has a number of unintended consequences. Such compression during loading may alter slightly the alignment of the clip between the jaws. This will cause the surgeon to remove the clip from between the jaws for discarding the clip. Additionally, such preloading compression may slightly compress parts of the clip and change a geometry of the clip. This may require the surgeon to remove the compressed clip from between the jaws for discarding the clip.
Endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures are often performed remotely from the incision. Consequently, application of clips may be complicated by a reduced field of view or reduced tactile feedback for the user at the proximal end of the device. It is therefore desirable to improve the operation of the instrument by providing an indication to the user of a firing of an individual clip, the depletion of the clips contained in the loading unit, or any other surgical event. It is also desirable to provide a surgical clip applier that promotes a successful loading of the clip and that wedges the jaws of the surgical clip applier open, then loads the clip between the jaws, in order to prevent any damage or excessive compression of the clip and prevents compression of the jaws on the clip before firing.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure relates to an endoscopic surgical clip applier.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position; a clip pusher bar configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaws while the jaw members are in the spaced apart position; a drive bar at least partially disposed within the handle assembly and the shaft assembly, the drive bar being longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a trigger of the handle assembly; and a drive channel positioned adjacent the first and second jaw members to move the jaw members to the approximated position.
The apparatus further includes a lockout system configured to selectively engage the clip pusher bar to prevent the clip pusher bar from returning to a home position and to prevent the trigger from completing a full stroke when the plurality of clips are substantially exhausted.
The lockout system may include a pusher-bar latch mechanism supported in the shaft assembly. In use, a lock-out bar of the latch mechanism may be actuated to engage the clip pusher bar when a final clip is exhausted. The lock-out bar may prevent the clip pusher bar from returning to the home position.
The apparatus may further include a clip follower slidably disposed within the shaft assembly at a location proximal of the plurality of clips. In use, the clip follower may urge the lock-out bar of the pusher-bar latch mechanism into engagement with the clip pusher bar when the final clip is exhausted.
The lockout system may include a rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth and being secured to the drive channel; and a pawl having at least one tooth and being disposed at a location to selectively engage the rack. The pawl may be biased into engagement with the rack. In use, as the drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, the plurality of teeth may be passed over the pawl, and the pawl may prevent inadvertent return of the drive channel before full actuation of the apparatus.
The apparatus lockout system may include a latch member operatively engageable by the clip pusher bar and the drive channel. The latch member may include a position that is out of engagement with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in the home position, and a position that is engaged with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in a non-home position. In use, when the clip pusher bar is prevented from returning to the home position by the lock-out bar, the latch member is engaged with the drive channel and prevents the drive channel from moving proximally, whereby the plurality of teeth of the rack are maintained in engagement with the pawl.
The apparatus may further include a wedge plate slidably supported in the shaft assembly. The wedge plate may include a distal end configured and dimensioned for placement between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the spaced-apart position. In use, the wedge plate may be moved in a proximal direction to withdraw the distal end thereof from between the jaw members when the drive channel is moved in a distal direction.
The apparatus may further include a gear operatively disposed between the wedge plate and the drive channel. In use, the gear may translate distal movement of the drive channel into proximal movement of the wedge plate and proximal movement of the drive channel into distal movement of the wedge plate.
The apparatus may be provided with a delay between the distal advancement of the drive bar and the distal advancement of the drive channel.
The apparatus may further include a trip mechanism supported on the drive bar. The trip mechanism may include a trip lever biased into contact with the clip pusher bar. In use, distal movement of the drive bar may move the trip mechanism until the trip lever thereof engages a lip of the clip pusher bar and in turn distally moves the clip pusher bar.
The apparatus may further include a shear pin operatively connected to the drive bar to transmit axial forces to the drive bar during movement of the trigger, wherein the shear pin includes at least one region of reduced strength. The shear pin may fail at the at least one region of reduced strength when a minimum predetermined shear force is exerted on the shear pin.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly, wherein each clip has an outer width; and jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, wherein the jaws include a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. The pair of jaw members have an outer width when in the spaced-apart position.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a) a handle assembly; b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly; c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly, each clip having an outer width; and d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position, wherein when the pair of jaw members are in the spaced-apart position the pair of jaw members have an outer width, wherein a ratio of the outer width of the clip to the outer width of the pair of jaw members when in the spaced-apart position in less than or equal to 1:1.8.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of applying surgical clips from a surgical clip applier is provided. The method includes the step of providing a surgical clip applier comprising at least a plurality of clips, jaws configured to receive and form said clips, and a trigger configured to actuate the jaws between an open position for receiving said clips and a closed position for forming said clips. The method further includes the steps of actuating the trigger from an open position to a closed position to load a first clip into the jaws and to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to form said first clip; and then releasing the trigger to return the trigger to the open position and to return the jaws to the open position.
The trigger can only return to the open position after the trigger has been actuated to a fully closed position. The method may further comprise the step of providing a drive bar connected to the trigger, and wherein the step of actuating the trigger from the open position to the closed position may then cause the drive bar to move distally.
The method may further comprise the step of providing a pusher bar selectively connected to the drive bar, and wherein the step of actuating the trigger from the open position to the closed position may then cause the pusher bar to move distally.
The step of moving the pusher bar distally may include the step of a distal end of the pusher bar contacting a backspan of a distalmost clip and then moving the distalmost clip to a position between into the jaws. The method may further comprise the step of then disengaging the drive bar from the pusher bar, whereby the drive bar continues to move distally.
The method may further comprise the step of simultaneously moving a remainder of clips in a distal direction as said distalmost clip is moved into the jaws.
The method may further comprise the step of the drive bar then engaging a drive channel to move the drive channel in a distal direction.
The method may further comprise the step of then moving the pusher bar in a proximal direction.
The method may further comprise the step of then moving a wedge plate in a proximal direction such that a distal end of the wedge plate is withdrawn from between the jaws.
The method may further comprise the step of then engaging a distal end of the drive channel against the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to from the clip disposed therein.
The method may further comprise the step of actuating a counter mechanism to indicate that an event has occurred.
The method may further comprise the step of then releasing the trigger to move the drive bar and drive channel in a proximal direction and to move the wedge plate in a distal direction.
The method may further comprise the step of actuating a lock member, following placement of a final clip into the jaws, that engages the pusher bar and prevents the pusher bar from moving to a fully proximal position.
A particular embodiment of a surgical clip applier is disclosed herein with reference to the drawings wherein:
Embodiments of surgical clip appliers in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical structural elements. As shown in the drawings and described throughout the following description, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on a surgical instrument, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is further away from the user.
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Shaft assembly 104 may have various outer diameters such as, for example, about 5 mm or about 10 mm, depending on intended use. Further, shaft assembly 104 may have various elongated (see
Surgical clip applier 100 includes a pair of jaws 106 mounted on a distal end of shaft assembly 104 and actuatable by a trigger 108 of handle assembly 102. Jaws 106 are formed of a suitable biocompatible material such as, for example, stainless steel or titanium. Notably, in some embodiments, when jaws 106 are in an open or un-approximated condition relative to each other, a maximum width of jaws 106 measures substantially less than or equal to an outer diameter of shaft assembly 104 to allow for insertion of a distal end of surgical clip applier 100 through a trocar during endoscopic surgery or an opening or orifice in a body during open surgery.
Jaws 106 are mounted in the distal end of shaft assembly 104 such that they are longitudinally stationary relative thereto. A knob 110 may be rotatably mounted on a distal end of handle assembly 102 and affixed to shaft assembly 104 to transmit and/or provide 360° rotation to shaft assembly 104 and jaws 106 about a longitudinal axis thereof (see
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Housing 103 supports a drive assembly 120 between right side half-section 103a and left side half-section 103b. Drive assembly 120 includes a wishbone link 122 having a first end pivotally connected to trigger 108, and a second end pivotally connected to a yoke 124. As seen in
Drive bar 140 is pinned to plunger 134 via a shear pin 142, the structure and function of which will be described in greater detail below. A cap 144 is provided through which drive bar 140 extends. A knob insert 111 is provided and is configured and adapted for rotational support in a distal end of housing 103 and for support of cap 144 therewithin. Knob insert 111 is keyed to knob 110 such that rotation of knob 110 results in concomitant rotation of knob insert 111. A seal 146 is provided to create an air-tight seal between drive bar 140 and an outer tube 150.
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In operation, as will be described in greater detail below, as trigger 108 is squeezed, trigger 108 causes wishbone link 122 to be advanced distally, causing yoke 124 to be advanced distally. When boss 122a of wishbone link 122 reaches the end of slot 128b of actuator plate 128, boss 122a forces actuator plate 128 in a distal direction thereby actuating counter actuation lever 130 to activate counter mechanism 132. In particular, when actuator plate 128 is moved distally a sufficient distance, second arm 130b of counter actuation lever 130 clears counter actuation surface 128c of actuator plate 128 and is urged in a first or clockwise direction by spring 139 resulting in first arm 130a of counter actuation lever 130 engaging counter mechanism 132. When actuator plate 128 is moved proximally a sufficient distance, second arm 130b of counter actuation lever 130 is cammed by counter actuation surface 128c of actuator plate 128 and is urged in a second or counter-clockwise direction thereby resulting in first arm 130a of counter actuation lever 130 disengaging counter mechanism 132.
Counter mechanism 132 includes a display 132a, a processor 132b, and an energy source 132c in the form of a battery or the like.
Display 132a may be any device known in the art to provide an indication of an event. The event may be related to the procedure or the operation of the clip applier 100. Display 132a may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), a luminescent display, a multi-color display, a digital display, an analog display, a passive display, an active display, a so called “twisted nematic” display, a so called “super twisted nematic” display, a “dual scan” display, a reflective display, a backlit display, an alpha numeric display, a monochrome display, a so called “Low Temperature Polysilicon Thin Film Transistor” (LPTS TFT) display, or any other suitable display 132a that indicates a parameter, information or graphics related to the procedure or clip applier 100.
In one embodiment, display 132a is a liquid crystal display which may be a black & white or color display that displays one or more operating parameters of clip applier 100 to the surgeon. In one embodiment, the operating parameter displayed may be an amount or number of remaining clips, a number of clips that have been used, a position parameter, a surgical time of usage, or any other parameter of the procedure. The display 132a may display text, graphics or a combination thereof.
In one embodiment, counter mechanism 132 may have a tab, preferably made from a Mylar or another polymeric insulating material, disposed between battery or energy source 132c and a contact of processor 132b which prevents the battery or energy source 132c from becoming drained during storage. The tab may extend out of housing 103 of surgical clip applier 100 in order to allow for easy removal of the tab therefrom. Once the tab is removed, battery or energy source 132c comes into electrical contact with the contact of processor 132b and in turn energizes display 132a.
Display 132c may include a lens or the like for magnifying the parameters displayed thereon. The lens of display 132a may magnify the display to any desired size in order to allow a surgeon to read the display with ease from a distance.
In an embodiment, counter mechanism may be a digital counter including a light source and an optical sensor for cooperating with the light source. The optical sensor may include an electronic eye or fiber optic lead producing a constant infrared beam that is shown on a detector such that the infrared beam or an interruption of the infrared beam can be translated into an electrical signal.
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Shaft assembly 104 further includes a pusher bar 156 slidably interposed between outer tube 150, and upper housing 152a and trip block 154. Pusher bar 156 includes a distal end 156a defining a pusher 156c configured and adapted to selectively enter into a window 153a formed in upper housing 152a (see
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Shaft assembly 104 further includes a clip follower 180 slidably supported and/or retained within channel 153b of upper housing 152a. Clip follower 180 includes a head portion 180a disposed behind and in contact with a proximal-most surgical clip “C2” of the stack of surgical clips “C”. Clip follower 180 further includes a tail portion 180b extending in a proximal direction from head portion 180a. Head portion 180a defines a ramp 180c near a proximal end thereof. In operation, as will be discussed in greater detail below, as clip follower 180 is distally advanced, head portion 180a thereof will contact and engage lock-out bar 168 of pusher-bar latch mechanism 166 such that distal portion 168b of lock-out bar 168 is cammed or urged in a radially outward direction (i.e., toward upper housing 152a or in a counter-clockwise direction as shown) by ramp 180c of head portion 180a of clip follower 180.
A biasing member in the form of a compression spring 182 is disposed about tail portion 180b of clip follower 180. Biasing member 182 functions to bias clip follower 180 in a distal direction, thereby applying a distally oriented force on the stack of clips “C”. Retainer block 184 includes a flange 184b interposed between upper housing 152a and trip block 154.
As seen in FIGS. 9 and 24-26, shaft assembly 104 further includes a clip retainer plate 186 configured and adapted to under/overlie the stack of surgical clips “C”, clip follower 180 and at least a portion of retainer block 184. As best seen in
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Body portion 202 of slider joint 200 includes a tab 202a formed near a proximal end thereof, and configured and adapted for slidably engagement in elongate slot 140d of drive bar 140 (see
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Stem 212e of wedge plate rack 212 rides within a groove (not shown) formed in a surface of channel 153c of lower housing 152b. Tail or rod 212d of wedge plate rack 212 is slidably passed through a stub 153e formed in and extending from channel 153c of lower housing 152b (see
Wedge plate rack mechanism 210 further includes a gear 216 pivotally connected to lower housing 152b. Gear 216 includes a set of teeth 216a that are in operative engagement with rack 212b of wedge plate rack 212, and an opposed tooth 216b operatively engageable with cut-out 190e formed in one of side walls 190a of drive channel 190 (see
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Pawl and rack assembly 220 includes a pawl 224 pivotally connected to lower housing 152b by a pawl pin 226 at a location wherein pawl 224 is in substantial operative engagement with rack 222. Pawl 224 includes a pawl tooth 224a which is selectively engageable with teeth 222a of rack 222. Pawl tooth 224a is engageable with rack teeth 222b to restrict longitudinal movement of rack 222 and, in turn, drive bar 140 within shaft assembly 104 and trigger 108 of handle assembly 102.
Pawl and rack assembly 220 further includes a pawl spring 228 configured and positioned to bias pawl 224 into operative engagement with rack 222.
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It is contemplated for surgical clip applier 100 to operate with stacks of clips “C” of varying sizes. For example, the clips comprising the stack of clips “C” may have a relatively narrow dimension or a relatively wide dimension.
The operation of surgical clip applier 100, to crimp a surgical clip around a target tissue, such as, for example, a vessel, will now be described. With reference to
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As wedge plate rack 212 is moved proximally, biasing member 214 is compressed between body portion 212a of wedge plate rack 212 and stub 153e formed in and extending from channel 153c of lower housing 152b. Concomitantly therewith, body portion 212a also moves tab 188b of wedge plate 188 in a proximal direction, thus causing distal end 188a of wedge plate 188 to be withdrawn from between jaw members 106c of jaws 106, as seen in
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Also, as drive channel 190 is further advanced distally, as seen in
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With drive bar 140 prevented from returning to the fully proximal position, as seen in
With distal portion 168b of lock-out bar 168 positioned in distal window 156d of pusher bar 156, with distal portion 162a of latch member 162 rotated into window 140g of drive bar 140, and with tooth 224a of pawl 224 remaining engaged with teeth 222a of rack 222, trigger 108 of surgical clip applier 100 is prevented from moving distally and/or proximally and the mechanism is locked.
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It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a handle assembly;
- b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;
- c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly;
- d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position;
- e) a clip pusher bar configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaws while the jaw members are in the spaced apart position;
- f) a drive bar at least partially disposed within the handle assembly and the shaft assembly, the drive bar being longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a trigger of the handle assembly;
- g) a drive channel positioned adjacent the first and second jaw members to move the jaw members to the approximated position; and
- h) a lockout system configured to selectively engage the clip pusher bar to prevent the clip pusher bar from returning to a home position and to prevent the trigger from completing a full stroke when the plurality of clips are substantially exhausted.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lockout system includes a pusher-bar latch mechanism supported in the shaft assembly, wherein a lock-out bar of the latch mechanism is actuated to engage the clip pusher bar when a final clip is exhausted, whereby the lock-out bar prevents the clip pusher bar from returning to the home position.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a clip follower slidably disposed within the shaft assembly at a location proximal of the plurality of clips, wherein the clip follower urges the lock-out bar of the pusher-bar latch mechanism into engagement with the clip pusher bar when the final clip is exhausted.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth and being secured to the drive channel; and
- a pawl having at least one tooth and being disposed at a location to selectively engage the rack, wherein the pawl is biased into engagement with the rack, wherein as the drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, the plurality of teeth are passed over the pawl, and wherein the pawl prevents inadvertent return of the drive channel before full actuation of the apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a latch member operatively engageable by the clip pusher bar and the drive channel, wherein the latch member includes a position that is out of engagement with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in the home position, and a position that is engaged with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in a non-home position,
- wherein when the clip pusher bar is prevented from returning to the home position by the lock-out bar, the latch member is engaged with drive channel and prevents the drive channel from moving proximally, whereby the plurality of teeth of the rack are maintained in engagement with the pawl.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wedge plate slidably supported in the shaft assembly, the wedge plate includes a distal end configured and dimensioned for placement between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the spaced-apart position, wherein the wedge plate is moved in a proximal direction to withdraw the distal end thereof from between the jaw members when the drive channel is moved in a distal direction.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a gear operatively disposed between the wedge plate and the drive channel, wherein the gear translates distal movement of the drive channel into proximal movement of the wedge plate and proximal movement of the drive channel into distal movement of the wedge plate.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a delay is provided between the distal advancement of the drive bar and the distal advancement of the drive channel.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a trip mechanism supported on the drive bar, the trip mechanism includes a trip lever biased into contact with the clip pusher bar, wherein distal movement of the drive bar moves the trip mechanism until the trip lever thereof engages a lip of the clip pusher bar and in turn distally moves the clip pusher bar.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shear pin operatively connected to the drive bar to transmit axial forces to the drive bar during movement of the trigger, wherein the shear pin includes at least one region of reduced strength.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shear pin will fail at the at least one region of reduced strength when a minimum predetermined shear force is exerted on the shear pin.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jaws are mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly in a manner capable of splaying in an outward direction in order to accommodate a clip between the pair of jaw members.
13. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a handle assembly;
- b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;
- c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly;
- d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position;
- e) a clip pusher bar configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaws while the jaw members are in the spaced apart position;
- f) a drive bar at least partially disposed within the handle assembly and the shaft assembly, the drive bar being longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a trigger of the handle assembly;
- g) a drive channel positioned adjacent the first and second jaw members to move the jaw members to the approximated position; and
- h) a trip mechanism supported on the drive bar, the trip mechanism includes a trip lever biased into contact with the clip pusher bar, wherein distal movement of the drive bar moves the trip mechanism until the trip lever thereof engages a lip of the clip pusher bar and in turn distally moves the clip pusher bar.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
- a lockout system configured to selectively engage the clip pusher bar to prevent the clip pusher bar from returning to a home position and to prevent the trigger from completing a full stroke when the plurality of clips are substantially exhausted.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lockout system includes a pusher-bar latch mechanism supported in the shaft assembly, wherein a lock-out bar of the latch mechanism is actuated to engage the clip pusher bar when a final clip is exhausted, whereby the lock-out bar prevents the clip pusher bar from returning to the home position.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth and being secured to the drive channel; and
- a pawl having at least one tooth and being disposed at a location to selectively engage the rack, wherein the pawl is biased into engagement with the rack, wherein as the drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, the plurality of teeth are passed over the pawl, and wherein the pawl prevents inadvertent return of the drive channel before full actuation of the apparatus.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a latch member operatively engageable by the clip pusher bar and the drive channel, wherein the latch member includes a position that is out of engagement with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in the home position, and a position that is engaged with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in a non-home position,
- wherein when the clip pusher bar is prevented from returning to the home position by the lock-out bar, the latch member is engaged with drive channel and prevents the drive channel from moving proximally, whereby the plurality of teeth of the rack are maintained in engagement with the pawl.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a clip follower slidably disposed within the shaft assembly at a location proximal of the plurality of clips, wherein the clip follower urges the lock-out bar of the pusher-bar latch mechanism into engagement with the clip pusher bar when the final clip is exhausted.
19. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a wedge plate slidably supported in the shaft assembly, the wedge plate includes a distal end configured and dimensioned for placement between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the spaced-apart position, wherein the wedge plate is moved in a proximal direction to withdraw the distal end thereof from between the jaw members when the drive channel is moved in a distal direction.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a gear operatively disposed between the wedge plate and the drive channel, wherein the gear translates distal movement of the drive channel into proximal movement of the wedge plate and proximal movement of the drive channel into distal movement of the wedge plate.
21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a delay is provided between the distal advancement of the drive bar and the distal advancement of the drive channel.
22. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a shear pin operatively connected to the drive bar to transmit axial forces to the drive bar during movement of the trigger, wherein the shear pin includes at least one region of reduced strength.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the shear pin will fail at the at least one region of reduced strength when a minimum predetermined shear force is exerted on the shear pin.
24. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a handle assembly;
- b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;
- c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly;
- d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position;
- e) a clip pusher bar configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaws while the jaw members are in the spaced apart position;
- f) a drive bar at least partially disposed within the handle assembly and the shaft assembly, the drive bar being longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a trigger of the handle assembly;
- g) a drive channel positioned adjacent the first and second jaw members to move the jaw members to the approximated position; and
- h) a wedge plate slidably supported in the shaft assembly, the wedge plate includes a distal end configured and dimensioned for placement between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the spaced-apart position, wherein the wedge plate is moved in a proximal direction to withdraw the distal end thereof from between the jaw members when the drive channel is moved in a distal direction.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a gear operatively disposed between the wedge plate and the drive channel, wherein the gear translates distal movement of the drive channel into proximal movement of the wedge plate and proximal movement of the drive channel into distal movement of the wedge plate.
26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a delay is provided between the distal advancement of the drive bar and the distal advancement of the drive channel.
27. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:
- a lockout system configured to selectively engage the clip pusher bar to prevent the clip pusher bar from returning to a home position and to prevent the trigger from completing a full stroke when the plurality of clips are substantially exhausted.
28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the lockout system includes a pusher-bar latch mechanism supported in the shaft assembly, wherein a lock-out bar of the latch mechanism is actuated to engage the clip pusher bar when a final clip is exhausted, whereby the lock-out bar prevents the clip pusher bar from returning to the home position.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a clip follower slidably disposed within the shaft assembly at a location proximal of the plurality of clips, wherein the clip follower urges the lock-out bar of the pusher-bar latch mechanism into engagement with the clip pusher bar when the final clip is exhausted.
30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth and being secured to the drive channel; and
- a pawl having at least one tooth and being disposed at a location to selectively engage the rack, wherein the pawl is biased into engagement with the rack, wherein as the drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, the plurality of teeth are passed over the pawl, and wherein the pawl prevents inadvertent return of the drive channel before full actuation of the apparatus.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the lockout system includes:
- a latch member operatively engageable by the clip pusher bar and the drive channel, wherein the latch member includes a position that is out of engagement with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in the home position, and a position that is engaged with the drive channel when the clip pusher bar is in a non-home position,
- wherein when the clip pusher bar is prevented from returning to the home position by the lock-out bar, the latch member is engaged with drive channel and prevents the drive channel from moving proximally, whereby the plurality of teeth of the rack are maintained in engagement with the pawl.
32. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a trip mechanism supported on the drive bar, the trip mechanism includes a trip lever biased into contact with the clip pusher bar, wherein distal movement of the drive bar moves the trip mechanism until the trip lever thereof engages a lip of the clip pusher bar and in turn distally moves the clip pusher bar.
33. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a shear pin operatively connected to the drive bar to transmit axial forces to the drive bar during movement of the trigger, wherein the shear pin includes at least one region of reduced strength.
34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the shear pin will fail at the at least one region of reduced strength when a minimum predetermined shear force is exerted on the shear pin.
35. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a handle assembly;
- b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly;
- c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly, each clip having an outer width; and
- d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position, wherein when the pair of jaw members are in the spaced-apart position the pair of jaw members have an outer width, wherein a ratio of the outer width of the clip to the outer width of the pair of jaw members when in the spaced-apart position in less than or equal to 1:1.8.
36. A method of applying surgical clips from a surgical clip applier, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a surgical clip applier comprising at least a plurality of clips, jaws configured to receive and form said clips, and a trigger configured to actuate the jaws between an open position for receiving said clips and a closed position for forming said clips;
- actuating the trigger from an open position to a closed position to load a first clip into the jaws and to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to form said first clip; and then
- releasing the trigger to return the trigger to the open position and to return the jaws to the open position.
37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the trigger can only return to the open position after the trigger has been actuated to a fully closed position.
38. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a drive bar connected to the trigger, and wherein the step of actuating the trigger from the open position to the closed position then causes the drive bar to move distally.
39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of providing a pusher bar selectively connected to the drive bar, and wherein the step of actuating the trigger from the open position to the closed position then causes the pusher bar to move distally.
40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the step of moving the pusher bar distally includes the step of a distal end of the pusher bar contacting a backspan of a distalmost clip and then moving the distalmost clip to a position between into the jaws.
41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of then disengaging the drive bar from the pusher bar, whereby the drive bar continues to move distally.
42. The method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of simultaneously moving a remainder of clips in a distal direction as said distalmost clip is moved into the jaws.
43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of the drive bar then engaging a drive channel to move the drive channel in a distal direction.
44. The method according to claim 43, further comprising the step of then moving the pusher bar in a proximal direction.
45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising the step of then moving a wedge plate in a proximal direction such that a distal end of the wedge plate is withdrawn from between the jaws.
46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising the step of then engaging a distal end of the drive channel against the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to form the clip disposed therein.
47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of actuating a counter mechanism to indicate that an event has occurred.
48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of then releasing the trigger to move the drive bar and drive channel in a proximal direction and to move the wedge plate in a distal direction.
49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of actuating a lock member, following placement of a final clip into the jaws, that engages the pusher bar and prevents the pusher bar from moving to a fully proximal position.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 2, 2008
Patent Grant number: 8382773
Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield (New Haven, CT), Gregory Sorrentino (Wallingford, CT)
Application Number: 12/055,446
International Classification: A61B 17/10 (20060101);